Fenton, Missouri - Former Guffey Elementary School Teacher Matthew P. Schumacher Accused of Sexually Abusing a Student

Former Guffey Elementary Teacher Accused of Sex Abuse, Faced Previous Allegations

Lawyer Commentary: School sexual abuse attorney Reed Martens will add legal commentary in the second part of this story, discussing the legal rights of student sex abuse victims.

Former Guffey Elementary School teacher Matthew Schumacher has been charged with sexually abusing a student and this is not the first time he has been accused of sexual misconduct.

The 39-year-old is accused of sexually abusing a third-grade female student in the classroom while the class was watching a movie during the 2013-14 school year. This incident was first reported in June 2019 and Schumaker was charged on May 29.

There is at least one other allegation of abuse against Schumacher at Guffey Elementary. He has also faced similar allegations during his time as a teacher at a Texas school, according to a probable cause statement. No information regarding charges in either of those cases is available.

Schumacher taught in the FOX C-6 school district between 2006 and 2018. His Missouri teaching certificate expired in 2018 and he also received a Texas teaching certificate that year, which is valid through 2023.

Can I Sue For Sexual Abuse by a Teacher?

Attorney contributor Reed Martens represents sex abuse victims and their families, including victims of abuse by teachers and other school employees. Here are some thoughts from Reed on the legal rights of these victims:

School officials and administrators have a critical legal duty to make sure their students are safe. Protections against sexual predators must be part of all safety plans, as sadly, sexual predators are sometimes found working as teachers, coaches, and in other educational positions. When a teacher is charged with sexually abusing a student, we should ask if the school did everything possible to prevent the abuse.

Some cases of sexual abuse by teachers are preventable and only happen because of negligence. For example, a school district could be considered negligent if the teacher had a past history of sexual misconduct but was still permitted to work for the school. In cases of negligence, school sex abuse victims and their parents may have grounds for a lawsuit.

If you or your child is a victim of sexual abuse by a teacher, you can learn more about your legal rights by contacting our experienced sex abuse victim lawyers for a free consultation.

Source

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-jefferson-county-elementary-school-teacher-accused-of-sexual-abuse-has-history-of-allegations/article_7703c721-e850-53d6-a131-26b347e1525a.html